(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a first of its kind law prohibiting book banning in Illinois. Under the law, libraries that remove books because of partisan or personal disapproval will no longer be eligible for state grants. The Governor says the threat is real…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias proposed the law, which takes effect January 1st. He says it will also provide protection for librarians who are harassed and threatened over certain titles.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  – Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhower has been placed on administrative leave concerning a domestic  incident at his home in the village. The Champaign County Sheriff’s office is investigating

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois will soon require new or renovated homes and multi-unit residential buildings to have conduits to charge electric vehicles. Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 40 into law, and this change will apply to new and existing houses, apartments, and condo properties. Democratic leaders said this change will help reduce vehicle emissions and expand the market for electric vehicles. Republican lawmakers are concerned that many property owners won't agree to this mandate.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Nearly all of Illinois is now considered to be abnormally dry or officially in a drought. The only counties in the state not covered by drought concerns are parts of Sangamon, Christian, Montgomery and the far northeast corner of Macoupin. Areas rated the driest are Pike, Hancock and Adams Counties, all in western Illinois. State Climatologist Trent Ford says there are some signs of problems…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says fortunately, the outlook for the rest of the month is calling for more normal rainfall and potential storms in mid to late June.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A stolen pickup truck was found submerged in Heritage Lake Park on Monday. Rantoul Police were notified around 2 p.m., and upon arrival found a red pickup truck completely submerged. Cornbelt Fire Protection District's dive team was called to assist in extracting the vehicle.  Police report the vehicle was not occupied, and that the truck was reported stolen from Champaign at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Rantoul Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that the ramp from northbound Interstate 57 to westbound I-74 in Champaign will close this evening. The closure is necessary to begin the construction of a new I-74 bridge over I-57 as part of a larger project to rebuild the entire interchange. A detour utilizing northbound I-57 to Market Street and then back to southbound I-57 to westbound I-74 will be in place during construction, which is expected to last about one year.

 

(Paxton–jc)  One local businessman and family continue to add businesses to the downtown area of the city. Victor Torres is owner of the La Hacienda Restaurant in Paxton and just opened Lucky’s Place…a tavern with Chicago Hot Dogs and gaming. Torres is now in the process of opening La Cafeteria in downtown Paxton with bakery goods and more. Torres says he hopes the third business will be open very soon…

 

 

Paxton Businessman Victor Torres.

 

(Dewey-jm) – A Dewey man convicted of aggravated sexual abuse has been sentenced to 7 years in prison. Josh Stover received the sentence in Champaign County court after admitting he took a girl to a Rantoul motel in 2020, provided he alcohol and assaulted her. A jury acquitted Stover of a more serious count of criminal sexual assault. With credit for time served, Stover could be released in as little as 3 months since he must serve at least 50 percent.

 

(Champaign County-jm) – A Champaign County advocacy group is raising concerns about the number of nursing home beds available in the county. Advocates for Nursing Home Care is raising the concerns following the closure of University Rehab and the reduction of beds at Clark Lindsey. According to data from the state, Champaign County has 710 total existing nursing home beds in 2021, however, there is a projected need of 721 beds by next year. According to the advocacy group, there’s only 412 nursing home beds in the county.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Crop conditions declined over the past week. The weather was cooler and drier than normal, leaving average statewide topsoil moisture at 31 percent very short, 42 percent short and 27 percent adequate. 97 percent of corn has emerged and the condition of the crop fell to 48 percent in good to excellent condition. Statistician Mark Schleusener looks at soybeans…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 63 percent of winter wheat and 22 percent of pasture acres are rated in good to excellent condition.

 

(Washington-jm) – Why are U.S. agricultural imports growing while exports are shrinking? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Former Governor Bruce Rauner is back in Springfield for the unveiling of his official portrait. It’s a tradition for each Governor to have their portrait hung at the state capitol after they’ve left office. Bruce Rauner’s features the former Governor standing in a navy suit with a light blue shirt and no tie. At the unveiling, he commented on the pin he’s wearing on his lapel in the picture…

 

 

Former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. Rauner currently lives in Florida and continues to work on education initiatives, visits his grandkids around the country and returns to Illinois each September for dove hunting season.

 

(Chicago-jm) – Chicago started moving some of the foreign nationals from the southern border to other communities throughout the city.  More than 10,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago from the southern border over the past nine months, which has resulted in taxpayer funding going towards addressing the influx. Governor J.B. Pritzker enacted the annual state budget that begins July 1. The plan includes $43 million from state taxpayers for the issue in Chicago. The state budget also provides taxpayer subsidies for some migrant health care. 

On top of state funds, Chicago is also appropriating $51 million toward housing and other services. Governor Pritzker is asking for more help from President Joe Biden's administration and work permits for the migrants. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is urging families to consider their pets in any disaster preparedness plans. Items to put into a disaster preparedness kit include extra bowls, collars, leashes, food, medication, treats and maybe a favorite toy or blanket, says IEMA Spokesperson Kevin Sur. He reminds that if you are displaced, many shelters don’t take pets…

 

 

IEMA Spokesperson Kevin Sur. Sur says it’s also a good idea to think about where you could go with your furry friend if you have to evacuate, such as a hotel that accepts pets or a relative’s house.

 

(Hoopeston-jm) – The U.S. Department of Defense has announced they found the remains of a central Illinois soldier who was 22 years old when he was killed in World War II. Air Force Technical Sgt. Lawrence Reitz of Hoopeston was among those fighting in Romania in 1943 in one of the largest bombing missions against the refineries north of Bucharest. Reitz’s plane was shot down during the raid. His remains were positively identified following a renewed identification effort that began in 2017.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in tracking down an Urbana woman wanted for burglary. Marjorie Hill, 53, was charged in February on a single count of burglary. After initially failing to appear in court, she was arrested and booked into the Champaign County Jail the following month. Hill pleaded guilty to the charge against her and was sentenced to 30 months of probation in early May. She was released from the Champaign County Jail on May 8, but was ordered to appear in court again for a follow-up hearing the next day. Hill never appeared in court on May 9 and a new warrant for her arrest was issued. Hill is described as being 5 feet, 3 inches in height and weighs 150 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

 

(Roberts–jc)  A Free fishing tournament is set for Saturday in the Ford County community of Roberts. The pond is owned by the Tongate family and they have set up a free fishing tournament from 10am until 3pm, says organizer Mike Tongate…

 

 

Roberts Fishing Tournament Spokesperson Mike Tongate. No fishing license is required due to the State of Illinois free fishing weekend. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Police are still investigating an armed bank robbery that happened last week and Crime Stoppers is joining the effort to identify the person responsible. The robbery happened Monday, June 5, at the Midland States Bank on West Springfield Avenue. Officials said that just before 2 p.m., a suspect entered the bank with a gun and demanded money. He was given an undisclosed amount of money and left before police arrived. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, light gray sweatpants, black shoes, gloves and a black face mask.

 

(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On June 6th, 33 year old Kayla Sutherly was arrested on an in state warrant and possession of meth.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Crop conditions declined over the past week. 63 percent of winter wheat and just 22 percent of pasture acres are rated in good to excellent condition. 92 percent of soybeans have emerged, well ahead of last year’s pace, with 47 percent of acres in good to excellent shape. Statistician Mark Schleusener looks at corn…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Rainfall was more than an inch below normal last week, dropping average statewide topsoil moisture to 31 percent very short, 42 percent short and 27 percent adequate.

 

(Washington-jm) – Exports of most U.S. bulk commodities are lower than last year, but there is at least one exception to that. Gary Crawford reports…